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Pee Wee teams begin season

Saturday, September 1, Pop Warner teams played their first pre-season games in high heat and humidity. Most of the teams played in Fallbrook, Ramona, Temecula or Murrieta and had to battle the high temperatures as well as the players on the field.

Shawn Coleman’s Warrior Nation Jr. Pee Wee team played in Murrieta at noon, when it was 110 degrees. Coaches ensured that players were kept cool as much as possible; Coleman’s team used a water sprayer to mist players.

Fallbrook’s overall win-loss record for preseason games is 3-5. However, President Allan Brassard stated that the Pop Warner experience is not all about winning and losing. It is about having fun, getting experience playing and learning life lessons.

Brassard also added that since Fallbrook is a small community, it immediately is put at a disadvantage since Fallbrook plays other communities where teams are fielded from a population three to four times the size of Fallbrook.

Regardless of community size, registration is up and topping more than 370 participants on nine football, one dance and five cheer teams.

The organization, though, is also progressing in its skill level despite the win-loss record. Last season, Fallbrook Pop Warner fielded all Division II teams compared to this year, where two of the nine teams play at the Division I level. Teams competing at the Division I level face tougher competition because many of the players have prior experience playing football.

Mark Thomas, who coaches the Tribe Pee Wee team, moved from last season’s Division II level of play to the Division I level this year. Last year, Thomas’ team posted an 11-0 record during the season and in post-season play defeated the San Marcos Bishops to win the Palomar Conference Championship.

This year, the competition isn’t rolling over for last year’s Conference Champions. According to Thomas, “The boys learned a bigger life lesson during their two-hour loss than they did all season long last year.”

Thomas also realizes that it is going to be a hard season because there are lots of good teams in the division but that the players are only going to get better because they are playing at a higher level. He also noted that the competition is preparing them for high school play. Many of the Pop Warner players continue playing through their high school years.

Members of the community can view many games this year at the high school’s newly renovated field. Games are held on Saturdays and game times are posted on the organization’s Web site, http://www.fallbrookpopwarner.org. Regular season play started on September 8 and continues through October.

 

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